Main Street Food Truck Festival in Little Rock planned for Oct. 5

September 24, 2013 (LITTLE ROCK, Ark.)- Main Street enthusiasts will find the third Main Street Food Truck Festival scheduled for Saturday, October 5 the best one yet, say organizers. "Not only do we have an exciting festival planned, we are excited to show this year's attendees the difference a year can make on Main Street!" said Sharon Priest, executive director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (DLRP).

Since the 2012 festival the former Blass Building, Mann on Main Building has opened, home to state offices, Bruno's Italian Restaurant, and residents. The 500 block of Main Street is also completely under construction and will soon be home to the Arkansas Symphony, a theater education class space for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Ballet Arkansas, visual art studios and others.

The 2013 downtown Little Rock festival will span four city blocks offering street eats from 25 food trucks and food carts, craft selections from 25 Etsy Little Rock vendors, local bands and musicians, a Heifer International Children's Plaza, street performers and three well stocked beer gardens selling the coldest brew in town!

Attendees can enjoy the festival activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Main Street will be blocked off from 3rd to 7th streets. Entrance to the festival is free. A television will be set up to catch any of the day's sports activities and two radio stations will broadcast live-Heather Brown of Alice 107.7 and Broadway Joe of Power 92.3, each with live call-ins and giveaways.

Priest noted, "In an effort to make it easier for attendees and volunteers, we will not sell food and drink tickets this year."

Downtown Little Rock Partnership organizers anticipate the festival to bring thousands of people to Main Street, a goal of its Main Street Revitalization Committee. The first year's event brought 4,500 people and, while rain and thunderstorms disrupted the 2012 event, 2,700 loyal food truck fans still attended (in the rain). The committee, co-chaired by Mayor Mark Stodola and DLRP member Anne Laidlaw, has been meeting monthly for three years to guide plans for Main Street pertaining to streetscape, safety and incentives for use of existing structures.

"It's amazing to me to see the people who love the city and who have gotten involved in plans for Main Street revitalization," said Mayor Mark Stodola. "We all know that investment in Main Street is an investment in our future as a city."

Raffle tickets will be sold for a special basket, "A Year of Fun in Downtown Little Rock," and will include tickets to The Rep, VIP tour of Heifer, memberships to downtown museums, a prime downtown parking space for a year, VIP Riverfest tickets, free scoops of ice cream from Loblolly Ice Cream, a Junior League of Little Rock Holiday House Package for 2 Ladies Night Out and 2 3-day shopping passes, and much more!

For more Main Street Food Truck Festival information call 501-375-0121. Become a fan on Facebook of Main Street Food Truck Festival - Little Rock for updates, conversation and parking locations or go to www.downtownlr.com. Twitter hashtag for the event is #foodtrucksrock.

10:40- 11:15- Main Stage- Michael Pollock- Michael Pollock is a Little Rock native most known as the front man of the Little Rock punk rock band, Bad Years. Michael began doing solo shows recently, playing acoustic rock originals as well as covers by bands that have influenced him. Bands such as The Replacements, Jawbreaker, and local hometown rockers, The Big Cats. Michael's band recently released a single on local record label, Max Recordings and is available on iTunes or vinyl.
11:30-12:15- Main Stage- Fire and Brimstone -Husband & Wife write, sing & play Reggae/Contemporary Mix. Brimstone is from Dominica and tours with 5 instruments. Fire, raised in L.A. began singing in high school & later worked in music business. Now giggin' with keyboards & vocals.

12:30-1:15- Main Stage- Kirk Anderton and Quentin May- Kirk Anderton and Quentin May have a very diversified set of all acoustic cover music. Great harmonies and crowd interaction make their show entertaining for every crowd.
1:30-2:15- Main Stage- Monkhouse- Monkhouse draws from a deep well of Americana musical styles. Country Blues, rock, gospel, and traditional roots music all combine to form a hearty mix of Southern music that bathes in the waters of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and the deep pinewood bottom-streams of lower Arkansas.

2:30-3:15- Main Stage-tba
3:30-4:15- Main Stage-tba

11:30-12:30- UnPlugged 7th and Main- Mister Morphis- As a One Man Band, he sings and whistles while playing the guitar, harmonica, and kazoo as well as the bass drum and
tambourine with his feet. His performances feature traditional and original folk, blues, country, and gospel music as well as seasonal selections.

1 p.m.- 4 p.m. - UnPlugged 7th and Main- Jack Bruno- of Bruno's Little Italy writes all of his own music and plays acoustic guitar with an amp.
EXTRAS:
Centenninal Mobile Bank- complete with 2 ATM's and TV- located at Capitol and Main
Heifer Village Children's Plaza- East side of 400 Block
Games include:
Life of a Tomato - A game of two tomatoes: they look a lot alike, but are they really? Trek the path of an industrially grown tomato and a locally grown tomato on its way to your dinner plate.
Heifer Harvest Twister -Living gifts such as livestock, seeds, trees and even bees can help families have better nutrition and a source of income...play the game to find out how!
Haiti fishing game--Grab a pole and learn how fish can help families become self-reliant
Creative Commitments - Create artwork that shows their commitment to helping Heifer International.
Create a bird feeder - Make a bird feeder to take home while learning how gifts of different birds can help families around the world.
Take Action Zone - Visitors will learn how they can take action to support families here at home and around the world through Heifer International's work to end hunger and poverty.

Three Beer Gardens- Tall Grass and Budweiser and The Rep- will have Gluten-free beer as well
Non-alcoholic beverages and water stations in every block
Maduro's Outdoor Cigar Lounge-4th and Main and Salsa dancing
ReCreation Studios- Providing street performers and offering Family Hula Hoop and Yoga seminars throughout the day at 6th and Main